Energy Policy ‘On Pause’ Says Industry

While more and more businesses are converting to commercial heat pumps and wind and solar energy production are at an all time high, not everything’s looking so rosy for the UK’s renewables industry.

According to the biggest professional body in the industry, the Energy Institute, political instability is causing dithering on energy policy which may end up costing the UK the ability to meet its current targets for reducing emissions.

Louise Kingham, chief executive of the Energy Institute told the Guardian: “The mood among our members is that energy policy is on pause and ministers need to hit the play button.”

In fact the Energy Institute ran a survey of its members and found the approximately 80 per cent of them believe the UK was going to fail to meet a key goal for this very reason.

The target causing the most concern is the one that by 2030 carbon emissions will be cut by 57 per cent compared to levels measured in 1990.

According to the industry, they’re awaiting the long overdue publication of the Clean Power Plan, which has been delayed by problems such as the departure of energy minister Nick Hurd,. The plan is meant to identify the shortcomings in carbon emission cuts already identified by advisers – and despite being due to be published last year, has still not reached the public domain.

In terms of the key issue of Brexit, the study also found that 80 per cent of industry professionals wanted to keep EU climate and energy laws.